Swap the Starbucks: 17 Skinnier Recipes Worth Sipping

The modern coffee house has become the de facto office space for thousands of work-from-home Americans, including yours truly. When I need to change of scenery or to interact in-person with other human beings, my local java joint is my go-to option. The people-watching is decent and I will often bump into a friend, which approximates the traditional water-cooler conversation. It’s also a place for nutritional choices and I often find myself struggling to stick to the program. Whether it’s the sweet aromas or the attractive displays, many of the items in the forefront are loaded with calories and easily put me over the top on my daily sugar intake. not to mention how terrible I feel later. Even worse are the hidden calories in my original favorite drink, the latte. I thought I was being so healthy, because there was no minimal sugar, only to find out how many calories are in the deceptively large servings. I am happy to share, however, that I have learned a lot over the last year to take control of the coffee house menu to make it work for me and my health needs.

Try an Americano, which is espresso and hot water, instead of espresso and milk (a latte). My go-to holiday choice is an Americano with a splash of eggnog.

Order a small (Starbuck's calls this "Short") or kid’s size serving of your favorite drink. That way you get all the flavor, but with fewer calories.

Try sugar-free syrups or using non-fat milk instead of full fat milk.

Order a mini or petite size dessert.

I also took the challenge to find my favorite coffee house recipes made from home with healthy ingredients. If you go to a coffee shop regularly like I do, these recipes will save you money and will help you reach your health goals. Grab your favorite book or journal and warm up with one of these recipes.

This is how I make chai when I need something warm that makes me feel enveloped in comfort without the added calories of my former addiction: hot chocolate. It's spicier and lighter in taste than any chai from a coffee shop.

Comments

I've been noticing (was never told this in person at the Starbucks stores) on the Starbucks app that they do have #lowcarb #KETO #LCHF options beyond the 2% milk default. In our area, they also offer coconut milk (a little too thin for me - I'd rather have almond or hemp milk) and heavy whipping cream as options. They also offer soymilk, but that is not something I can handle - too estrogenic and messes with my thyroid and other hormonal levels in my body. So these days I prefer to customize my drinks with the app and then order it to go. Also I find a lot of the foods there - they don't put the ingredient list out where we can easily see it... but...I've noticed I'll get the dreaded "Soybean Bellyache" and look it up later and find out they are using various soybean derivatives in the food. So if you have soy allergies - watch out!!
- 9/13/2016 10:37:59 AM

Fabulous! I'm a big fan of sugar-free flavour shots in a medium sized brewed coffee, or else a large tea with an extra bag, left to steep while I chat or work. It feels like a warm, fragrant and rich treat--but, calorie-wise, it's just a coffee, or just a tea.
- 9/11/2016 1:18:33 PM

HOW TO WEEN YOURSELF OFF of Starbuck's high-calorie coffee-drinks: It worked for me. Not saying it will work for everyone, but it's worth a try.

Here's how to do it. Order an Americano, don't add cream or sugar. Eat it with something sweet like the Starbuck's madeline cookies. Take a sip, then take a bite. Eat all three the first few times. Then back down to two, then one. Then try it with something savory instead (a plain croissant or breakfast sandwich). Eventually you will like the taste of black coffee, without the sugar and cream; and you will no longer need the sweet things to go along with it. If you love your morning coffee, doing this will save you hundreds of calories per day.
- 1/6/2015 12:27:05 PM

I love Chai Tea with International Delights Caramel no fat no sugar creamer. I make it hot and ad the creamer and a pinch of salt in enhance the flavour. Plus a stevia for an extra sweet taste. It's delish!
- 9/10/2014 11:11:59 AM

My summer go-to at Starbucks is a caramel iced coffee with soy milk. That being said, I worked at a coffee shop for a couple of years, and I can make a meaner cuppa joe than they can (with better tasting coffee)!
- 9/10/2014 8:45:42 AM

Thanks for all the suggestions. I usually use a half cup of regular coffee, a half packet of instant cocoa (like Swiss Miss) and a half cup non-fat milk, mixing the cocoa in the hot coffee, then adding the milk and ice. If I need it, I'll add a spoonful of instant expresso.
- 1/28/2014 7:35:56 AM

As a teenager, I worked in a local coffee shop where I was surrounded by temptation all of the time! I figured out how to brew my coffee beverages and drink them too (without putting on extra pounds). I always tried to share my coffee with someone else and I would make one large version of whatever we were craving that day with coconut milk instead of any of the others available and then I would use a sugar free syrup...then spilt the one drink into two cups and fill it the rest of the way with water or flavored coffee. I still pull this trick...EVEN at McDs. :-) order 1 large specialty drink and 1 large regular coffee, ask for an extra cup and. mix up the magic!

SIDE NOTE: My boss actually added coconut milk to the menu after I got a bunch customers interested in it. Don't be afraid to ask your local coffee shop to make changes for the better.
- 3/21/2013 1:25:31 AM

I found the copycat recipe for the Oatmeal Fudge bars and substituted a few things: Instead of 1 cup butter, I used 1/2 cup of apple sauce and 1/2 cup butter Instead of 14 oz sweetened condensed milk, I used 1 can of low fat sweetened condensed milk and topped up with fat free evaporated milk to make 14 oz Instead of 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips I used very dark chocolate (90% cocoa)

I was happy with the result - here's the original recipe if you want to try it.

My number one tip for anyone living in the UK? Consider boycotting Starbucks: they don't pay fair taxes for the profit they make out of us! UK customers are deserting Starbucks outlets up and down the country in droves - we are tired of major corporates dodging taxes at our expense. :big grin:
- 12/14/2012 5:34:41 AM

Vanilla soy milk and hot chai is wonderful. If you want to froth milk or soy milk, you can use a frother or even a French press, add hot milk and "churn." A better "Americano" is the Itliano, which is made by putting water in first and then espresso on top. It really does make a difference, but what re3ally makes a difference is the quality of the coffee. Ran a coffee shopfor a while and mhy barista was champion here and number 12 in the world. My first barista is know reighning world champion.
- 12/13/2012 9:25:49 PM

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